Celebrate autumn with October music concerts at College of DuPage – Daily Herald

College of DuPage Student Ensemble and the DuPage Community Concert Band present a colorful variety of musical works, from familiar Broadway melodies to intriguing avant-garde arrangements in October.

Both performances will be in Belushi Performance Hall at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.

The DuPage Community Concert Band will perform “Traditions and Discoveries,” featuring both new adventures in music and traditional crowd favorites, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16

The program includes crowd favorites from the wind repertoire as well as newer pieces from contemporary composers. Oliver Waespi’s “Fanfare and Funk” will open with a traditional brassy fanfare laced with groovy funk, followed by Eric Whitacre’s “October,” a beautiful and melancholy reflection on the autumn season. Next, Ralph Vaughn Williams’ “Toccata Marziale” will fill the hall with its vibrant, spirited energy. The band will then recall one of the greatest opera scenes of all time with Verdi’s “Triumphal March” from “Aida,” and various favorite numbers from “Phantom of the Opera” that will remind the audience of the legendary Broadway tale. The night will conclude with a rarely-heard gem, Sousa’s 1915 “Pathfinder of Panama.”

College of DuPage Student Ensemble will perform in five music department ensembles featuring enthusiastic and creative string and wind players, percussionists, jazz musicians and singers on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Five ensembles will be featured throughout the evening, including Chamber Orchestra, directed by Mark Liu; Chamber Singers, directed by Patrick O’Shea; Concert Choir, directed by Patrick O’Shea; Percussion Ensemble, directed by Ben Wahlund; and Jazz/Pop Combos, directed by Matt Shevitz.

Chamber Orchestra consists of student and community member instrumentalists, and is open to anyone in high school or older. The ensemble performs traditional music for small orchestra/chamber music ranging from the 1600s to the 20th century, as well as less traditional styles such as jazz, contemporary classical and theater and film music.

Chamber Singers consists of voice majors, other music majors and other skilled singers and specializes in all periods of music with an emphasis on Renaissance madrigal and motets, music of the 20th century and the music of many cultures. Contemporary performances feature the works of major composers, avant-garde music and arrangements of folk, ethnic and popular music.

Concert Choir is a non-auditioned ensemble that performs choral works in many genres and eras. Repertoire of the ensemble includes short to medium-length works in the styles of folk, gospel, classical, Broadway and contemporary.

Percussion Ensemble studies and performs works written specifically for the percussion family and transcriptions adapted for percussion. Concert selections feature music within the genres of classical, rock/pop, jazz, world music, general improvisation and more.

Jazz/Pop Combos performances feature a variety of types of jazz, including classical, contemporary, instrumental and vocal. Students who perform in this ensemble have to opportunity to transcribe, rehearse and perform pieces of their choosing while working with an instructor to develop materials and learn rehearsal strategies.

Tickets are $7. For more information, visit atthemac.org. or call the MAC Box Office at (630) 942-4000.